Abstract / Synopsis
Math and Democracy is a math class containing topics such as voting theory, weighted voting, apportionment, and gerrymandering. It was first designed by Erika Ward for math master’s students, mostly educators, but then adapted separately by both Erika Ward and Kim Roth for a general audience of undergraduates. The course contains materials that can be explored in mathematics classes from those for non-majors through graduate students. As such, it serves students from all majors and allows for discussion of fairness, racial justice, and politics while exploring mathematics that non-major students might not otherwise encounter. This article serves as a guide to resources and activities for teaching similar courses and also as a call to talk about issues of race and justice in the math classroom.
DOI
10.5642/jhummath.DRYS5699
Recommended Citation
Kimberly A. Roth & Erika L. Ward, "Math and Democracy," Journal of Humanistic Mathematics, Volume 13 Issue 2 (July 2023), pages 86-101. DOI: 10.5642/jhummath.DRYS5699. Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/jhm/vol13/iss2/7
